Another day… another rejection letter. Ember groaned in a defeat as she sat limply on the park bench, phone in hand as she read over the letter again. Not enough experience… it wasn't fair. How could she even get more job experience if the only positions available were minimum wage service gigs? She worked nearly 70 hours a week just to scrape by between loans and bills and it was showing, visible bags under her eyes that resembled bruises and more than a few flecks of gray in her dark hair. Figuring she would have to put off groceries for another few days in order to make up for time lost sending out resumes, she paused her thoughts as someone caught her eyes. Someone she both loved and dreaded the sight of. Graham. Graham the most attractive man Ember had ever known. Graham who always seemed to have things together, composed, cool and confident. Graham who Ember had the most intense, embarrassing crush on. It wasn't her fault! It was just, despite being so great and making everything look so easy, he seemed to like hanging around her struggling self. She didn't get it, and while she couldn't complain, she couldn't help but lose her voice and focus alike when he was around. "Hey Ember~!" He sang out cheerfully as Ember was too little too late in pretending to be distracted by her phone. "Ah- uh, ho hey, uh, G- Graham!" Ember tried to swallow back her nerves to little effect, struggling to look Graham in the eyes. His gorgeous, almost violet eyes… Gah! Focus Ember! Don't stare like a doofus! Ember turned away bashfully, face already tinted pink as Graham sat right next to her, relaxed as can be. "So, how'd the interview go? Nailed it I suppose?" He chimed. Ember winced. "Er… ah- n- no…" She slumped, defeated. She bet Graham never had this problem, she bet he had aced every single job interview he ever had, she bet… … She didn't even know what Graham did for a living. "Aw, sparky…" Graham put a hand on her shoulder as Ember hid her blush best she could, not knowing why he'd settled on the nickname but it flustered her nonetheless. "Gah, don't worry about me," She made a limp attempt to shrug him off. "I'll figure something out soon." It was obvious she didn't believe her own words. "How can I when you're still struggling after all the work you put in? I read over your resume, remember?" "You've got your own problems I'm sure." Ember tried to wave him away. "Enough of me venting to you, tell me what's on your end of things." She wasn't truly expecting anything. A part of her wanted her perfect picture of him to fade slightly, but it was a jealous part that was quickly buried. She didn't want to put her problems on anyone else, especially someone she privately pined for. "Well now that you mention it." Graham leaned back, finger on his chin. "There's something I've been struggling with at work as well." "What is it!?" Ember sat straight, mentally chiding herself for almost being excited to see Mr. Payser having a moment of weakness. "Where I work we have a referral program, and while it's optional, the benefits for using it range from extra vacation days to physical prizes, just one referral will show my loyalty and get me in the good books with the hired ups…" Graham gave her a look, one that Ember understood. Ember needed a new job. Graham had a potential in. "Where… where do you work?" "Are you interested~?" That all knowing grin. So smug. So handsome… - "What exactly is this place?" Ember felt awed and intimidated at once, the great iron gates the two stood before opening with a metallic creak after Graham simply put his employee card in the slot. The two walked along the dirt path, a multi tiered fountain acting as a centerpiece, the paths bordered by carefully trimmed hedges. "Employee housing." Graham answered as if it was the simplest thing in the world. "You live here!?" Ember gaped. This was more like some upper class gated community than anything she would assume. This got a grin from Graham. "And you will too, once everything's settled." Ember blinked rapidly in confusion. "No way! Whatever has accomodations like this is way out of my league!" Graham stopped and turned on his heel, facing the only slightly shorter girl and poking a finger into her chest, face uncharacteristically firm. "You need to stop talking like that. You are capable of much more than you've been led to believe, I know that more than anyone. The only reason you haven't moved up in the world is because you're overqualified for all those stiffs who don't even want to pay you a decent wage." Ember just stood there silently, trying to take those words in. "Uh… okay." Did Graham really think highly of her? Why? - The insides of the main building was practically the exact opposite of the exterior grounds. Grey, dull and oppressive despite the wide, cavernous halls. And absolutely deserted… "Yeah, I know the place is drab, but that's just how the higher ups like it. If you ask me the place could use some color, a nice velvet purple wash, some tasteful paintings from local artists…" Graham chattered as they walked, voice echoing against the metal walls. Eventually they stopped in front of a grand set of oaken double doors, Graham buzzing himself in on the nearby paging system. "Employee number zero-nine-zero-zero-one, Pacesetter, calling in regarding referrals!" In but a few seconds, the doors swung open, Graham waving Ember in. "You're gonna do great~" - It was like a blur. An absurd, surreal blur. But she got the job. She only barely understood what she was to even do, seemingly acting as but an assistant during these early days. A test phase, as it were. It was mostly Graham talking her up, the short woman that was her interviewer seemingly taking him at his word with only barely a glimpse at her resume. Ember could only hope she could live up to his hype. "Hey!" Ember was snapped out of her thoughts by Graham's voice as he nudged the door open with his foot, arms full with bags of takeout. He offered after they had spent the day moving her into her new suite. Suite… a suite! Not a run down apartment or some rented out basement, but a proper home that was entirely her own! That alone was worth celebrating, even if a part of her worried she'd soon be moving her belongings right back out should she not be fit for her new job. On that note… "Say, Graham… What exactly IS a… Firestarter, was it?" "Yeah, that's gonna be your eventual position. Your job is to keep things interesting, cause a little trouble even!" "... My job is to cause trouble?" "Well yeah! Keep your fellows on their toes and prepared for anything! That means you can make mistakes and get rewarded for it by making sure others clean up after you!" "That's… an interesting position…" "Yeah, and it pays well, low stress, and it's perfect for you to work on your self esteem!" It was then that Ember noticed something else in Graham's hand. "You smoke?" She asked, realizing it was a cigar. "Ah, no. It's just tradition to give new employees one as a welcome gift." He handed it over. "You don't have to use it if you don't want to." A pause, then a grin. "Even just a single puff IS known to be good luck though…" … "You got a light?" Ember needed all the help she could get. - Ember caught herself lingering in her mirror. The last few days had gone significantly better than she expected. She was learning quickly and her coworkers seemed to already develop a healthy respect for her despite more or less just fetching coffees right now. Oddly greasy looking, strange smelling coffee, but coffee nonetheless! Either way, things had been going well, but looking at her reflection, something was… off. Did she manage to get a sunburn indoors? Her skin has gained a reddish hue, but didn't hurt at all. Beyond that, as she rolled up a sleeve and cautiously groped her arm, it seemed… bigger somehow. Muscle? It didn't quite feel that way, and it wasn't like she'd been doing much heavy lifting. "Hey there Ember! How's my favorite coworker?" She nearly yelped as she covered herself proper, mentally kicking herself for giving Graham the code for her lock. … Though not entirely upset. He just happened to be an early bird. She huffed and slipped a tank top on in a rush, not thinking about the strange changes to her body for the time being. A whistle from Graham. "Looking good sparky! Told you this job would help!" Ember's blush practically glowed from her warm tinted skin. "Y- you think so?" She shook her head. "Ah-! S- sorry for looking a mess, I don't know what's going on with this… weird tan?" She shrugged limply. "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about!" The man grinned and placed a hand on her shoulder, only making her face burn brighter. "Besides, you look great! How do you feel?" Ember had to think about that. Now that she wasn't focusing on her appearance in the mirror she was… actually feeling pretty good. Normally she'd be so groggy in the morning, but now? Now she felt a spring in her step that was unfamiliar yet exciting. "By the way, I didn't come empty handed~" Graham chimed, gesturing to a pair of coffees on the kitchenette counter. "Figured we'd just relax after your first successful week!" Ember had yet to be brave enough to actually try the strange coffee, but the scent was bewitching, and she did like her Joe in the mornings. "To our new life!" Graham cheered, offering up a cup to toast the occasion. Our new life. Ember really liked how that sounded. Them. Together… "To our new life." She met his cup with her own, and a smile. - Ember was surprised. For someone whose job was effectively to start trouble, she seemed to have garnered great respect, at least among other new recruits. There was one odd aspect though. "Thank you Mr. Bonpyre!" "Understood Bonpyre sir!" "Go ask Bonpyre, he'll help you." All the stranger was that… Ember didn't even mind. It felt… good to be called Sir. It felt more dignified and respectful than its feminine equivalent she was used to. Even just being referred to as Him felt different, in the good way. At first she didn't correct others out of awkwardness, now it was because she was starting to outright prefer it. Mr. Bonpyre. It felt good in her ears. Maybe she'd experiment with it more, see how it felt to speak of herself that way. Himself… There was a rush to it, deep in her chest. Right, and good. - It has been gradual at first, Ember's… changes. Inches added to his height, skin tone shifting to an unnatural red, body hair slowing its growth to a halt, shaved away as it grew irritating. Even his chest seemed to grow broader, breasts shrinking away as his strength grew, in better shape than ever. It was like now that he found himself in this position, he was reaching his utmost potential. The strangeness of it all hadn't fully registered until now. For today, he'd woken up in a horrible state, head pounding and body damp with sweat, breath rasping. Something was very, very wrong with him. He palmed for his phone on the tableside, only to knock it to the floor clumsily with his uncoordinated hands, clutching his skull as he fell from his bed, heart thundering and vision blurry. He was dying. Of that he was sure. He heard the door open in the front room. Graham! Of course! He could- he could get him help. "Ghh… Graham… helllp…" Ember gasped, tongue feeling heavy and swollen in his mouth as he tried to push himself up. A thudding of feet and Graham was hovering over him, sunglasses doing little to hide his concern. "It's okay, it's okay, I got you, it'll hurt but it's gonna be over soon. I'm right here." Graham spoke quietly yet firm, eyes trained on Ember. "Wh- whaa… hurk-!" Ember interrupted he sown slurred questioning as he gagged and hocked up a wad of… something. Something that glowed orange with heat and left a scorch on the carpet below, chest still burning. "It's okay, just get it out, you'll adapt soon…" "What are you talking abou… ab- aghk…" Ember grunted and shuddered before yelling out, a disturbing crunch accompanied by groans as his face started to stretch out unnaturally, mouth forced open as more red hot liquid spluttered out, gasping as he struggled to breath as he reached, feeling like his insides were melting. He wasn't wrong… Graham kept a hand on Ember's shoulder as he had one more rush of a growth spurt, sleep shirt tearing at his broad shoulders and tight around his chest, muscled physique visible through the thinning fabric, raising a metallic hand to his neck as it broadened and pulsed, what looked like tubes starting to writhe and emerge from them, crawling up to pierce into what used to be his cheeks, another yell, this one almost distorted sounding as if put through a filter. A gasp, breathing suddenly easier, gas maskesque features still shifting to life from organic flesh, eyes burning and tearing up as they melded together into a single visor, flattening and hardening into a screen, yellow glowing pupils visible on a black backdrop. A smell of burning hair, a whine as Ember clawed weakly at his scalp before flames started to lick his chocolate tresses until with a FOOOMM it burst into a pyre, a gasp before visibly calming some as the fire weakened, reducing to a manelike flickering trail, the heat having molded his head to vaguely resemble a protective helm. Ember remained there on hands and knees, breathing slowly, before carefully hovering a hand over the shape blocking his vision, able to feel the heat on his breath from here. "There we go, all done. How do you feel?" Graham's voice was gentle, almost uncharacteristically so. "S… sore." Ember groaned, voice an overtly masculine rumble, slightly tinny as he slowly stood, Graham helping provide balance. "Yeah, it's never easy, especially given the uh… facial changes." Graham admitted, guiding Ember onto the bed. "Lord if you don't look amazing though…" He trailed off dreamily as his eyes combed over the taller robot's new build. "Wait… you knew this would happen?" Ember spoke cautiously, gazing down at his own metallic form in awe, the panic at his metamorphosis being forced down by the presence of Graham seated beside him. "Yeah, well… I never did tell you how I was able to transition…" Graham trailed off. Ember knew what he meant. When they first met, Graham was Vanessa, but that changed, and only for the better as far as the two were concerned. "I just assumed you took to it better than others, you make everything else look so easy-" Ember cut himself off, eyes wide. "Uh- I mean- I didn't mean it like that-!" Graham raised a finger to silence the taller of the two. "No no, I know what you mean, it's a talent, but not this time around. Working here comes with its… perks." A grin, and Ember swore his features shimmered a bit, purple stripes framing the lower half of his face, the upper half revealing a metallic silver sheen, his hair solid rubber rather than individual strands, beret he was never seen without shifting to resemble a helmet of his own. He stretched limbs and torso seemingly growing slightly, making his slim build all the more exaggerated, though still noticeably shorter than Ember's new body. "You…" Graham only looked slightly different than before, but it still spoke volumes. "That's how…?" "Eeeyup." Graham shrugged. "This place tends to mold its workers to fit their roles, and I know I'm not complaining…" He looked up, eyes concerned behind his shades. "But what about you? I can't say I expected such a drastic change, you look great! But, are you okay with it?" Ember looked down, hand over Graham's, the sheer difference in size visible. "I… actually kinda like it. I mean, it's… weird I know but, and I know it's gonna take getting used to an- and…" "Say no more." Graham squeezed Ember's hand. "As long as you're okay with it, that's all that matters to me." Ember looked into Graham's eyes, a smile forming on his snout- "Oh *bwarp*, work, I need to-!" He jolted up, only to half stumble into the wall, not used to the weight of his metal body, nor his newfound height. "Hey hey, relax!" Graham rushed over in a blink and grabbed Ember's shaking shoulders. "I booked today and tomorrow off for both of us, so you can get used to things." He eased him back to the mattress. "Th- thanks…" Ember said, slightly embarrassed. "You're amazing, you know that?" He admitted with an orange glowing blush. "So are you sparky." Graham laid down next to Ember, chin on his broad shoulder. … "Actually, could you call me… Flint?" This got a chuckle. "That's the perfect name for you big guy."